Cigarette



I Patented Feb. 2,4, 1931 PATENT OFFICE EDWARD amen, or cmcaeo, rumors CIGABFIITE Application led'September 20, 1928. Serial No. 307,269.

My invention relates to cigarettes, and more particularly to means for speciallypreparing the same, and my main object 1s to prepare the cigarette with a novel mouth- 5 piece which filters the nicotlne from the smoke so as to permit the latter to be inhaled without harmful effects.

A further objectof the invention is to incorporate in the novel mouthpiece a member of absorbent material, which takes up and retains the nicotine juices yielded by the smoke, yet permits the latter to pass freely to the mouth. j

A still further object of .the invention is to locate in the end of the novel mouthpiece a screen which traps fine tobacco particles and dust, so as to filter the smoke and render the same free of foreign matter before it eno ters the mouth. 2

case the novel mouthpiece in a semi-rigid gelatine jacket, Which serves as a guard for any moist or liquid matter which may have a tendency to escape in a lateral direction from the mouthpiece, and confines it so that such Inatter may not come in contact with the lips between Which the mouthpiece is held.

A final, but nevertheless important object of the invention is to encase the same in a fabric wrapper, which forms a neat closure and a sanitary container for the mouthpiece'.

With the above objects in view and any others that may suggestthemselves from the specification and .claims to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which A Figure l is a perspective view of a typical 40 cigarette equipped with the novel mouthpiece; j

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective viewr of the jacket previously referred to;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the screen; l

Figure 4 is a similar view of theabsorbent member;

Figure 5 is a fragmental perspective View of the end of the mouthpiece, showing the ap'- pearance of the wrapper thereat; and

Another object of the invention is to en Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectionthrough the mouthpiece.

It is a familiar fact that-smoking occasions' many eorts have been made in the past to check the nicotine by the use of filters and other mechanical appliances. Most attempts in this direction have been applied, as far as I have been able to observe, to tobacco pipes and cigar or cigarette holders. Since cigarettes have gained wide popularity in recent years, I have considered it advisable to improve the same to reduce the harmful effects to a minimum and make the smoking thereof more pleasant.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 10 denotes the-clgarette, which may be of any suitable ty e. For the purposes of my invention, I fit one end of the cigarette into a semirigidl gelatine cup 11, which constitutes the mouthpiece for the cigarette. The cup l0 is sufficiently firm to exert a substantial hold upon the cigarette `so as to properly support the same; however, the cup is mainly intended to serve as the jacket previously referred to, this function thereof being explained in a later section.

In the mouthpiece, the end of the cigarette first receives a cylindrical pad 12 of absorbent cotton orsimilar material. This pad is disposed in endwise contact with the end of the cigarette and is axially bored as indicated at 13; also, A.the pad is peripherally fiuted as indicated at 14, -in a longitudinal direction, the flutes extending entirely around the ad.

The latter snugly fits the cup 11, yet the utes 14 form passages between the latter and the pad.

12 and the screen 15, and also receives the end .of the cigarette 10, it maybe properly called a jacket, as mentioned. However, in order wrapper that the mouthpiece may be given a more nished and sanitary appearance, I prefer to impose upon the jacket a silk wrapper 17, whose free end is gathered as indicated at 18 and stitched as shown at 19 to make a neat and compact closure. The cigarette is now completed and may be packed in quantities as the custom may dictate.

In pointing out the characteristics of the features described above, the pad 12 may first be mentioned. While this pad is perforated both centrally and peripherally to permit smoke to pass through it, it is of such an absorbent nature as to permit the larger por` tion of the smoke to pass through the same and yield its nicotine content. As is well known, the nicotine is carried by the moisture in the smoke and if permitted to accumulate settles zin the form of a liquid or juice. Thus, to keep in check the moisture within its cells, the pad occasions the deposit of the nicotine particles and as the cigarette is smoked becomes more or less impregnated with the nicotine. It may thus be safely assumed that the smoke is divested of the greater portion of its nicotine content when it has emerged from the pad. The smoke now must pass through the screen 15, and this will supplement the function of the pad to some degree, and also check what particles of fine tobacco or dust may be carried by the smoke, so that the samel may not enter the mouth. Finally, the smoke will Iissue from the mouthpiece through the apertures 11b and 110 and the meshes of the 17, at which stage it may be considered sufficiently pure for practical purposes.

The jacket 11, While constituting a firm container and holder for its contents, is also intended as a guard to shield the lips of the smoker from any moisture of tobacco or nicotine which mayescape from the pad 12 by reason of excess absorption or heat..v Thus, no bad taste will be experienced While holding the mouthpiece between the lips. Also, the gelatinous material of the jacket is slowly soluble and therefore will not clog up a wash bowl or floor drain in which the discarded cigarette may be thrown.

l Ordinarily, the nicotine in a. cigarette accumulates in the mouthpiece end as the process of smoking goes on until such end becomes so clogged that the smoker feels the bitter taste of the nicotine and therefore discards the cigarette while a substantial portion of tobacco is still present in the end referred to. In the case of m novel mouthpiece, this condition is avoide as the' nicotine does not accumulate in the mouthpiece end of the ciga rette, but is constantly drawn to lodge in the pad 12, which is of a nature to both absorb the nicotine yet permit the free passage of the smoke without carrying the bad taste of the nicotine. Thus, the entire cigarette may be smoked, adding to the period of the enjoyment thereof and rendering smoking more economical.

A While the novel mouthpiece has marked utility, it may be enhanced in appearance by colormg the jacket or the wrapper; also, these parts may be flavored or scented as the fancy may dictate to add to the attraction of the article. In conclusion, it may be said that the mouthpiece is not applied or held out in an independent-sense, but is intended to merge into the cigarette as an integral part thereof, so that I am really presenting to the public a new cigarette rather than a holder or mouthpiece therefor.

Vhile I have illustrated and described my invention in the preferred form, it will be seen that the same is capable of many minor changes and refinements as well as the application to the style of a cigar, and it is my intention to claim such changes, refinements, and application as coming within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A cigarette mouthpiece comprising a perforated capiitted upon one end o f the cigarette, an absorbent pad within the cap, a fabric screen between the pad and the crown of the cap, and a fabric wrapper imposed, upon the cap.

2. A cigarette mouthpiece comprising a perforated cap fitted upon one end of the cigarette, an absorbent pad within the cap, and a fabric screen between the pad and the crown of the cap, said screen being marginally flanged to seat in the wall of the cap.

3. A. cigarette mouthpiece comprising a perforated cap fitted upon one end of the cigarette, an absorbent pad within the cap, a fabric screen between the pad and the crown of the cap, and a fabric wrapper imposed upon the cap, said wrapper being gathered at its outer end and secured.

In testimony whereof I aiix my si nature.

EDWARD GEAIEON. 

